Posted on 05/15/2008 11:59:36 AM PDT by Red Steel
U.S. President George W. Bush lashed out Thursday at those who would negotiate with "terrorists," calling the approach comparable to the "appeasement" of Adolf Hitler before the Second World War, comments that were perceived as a personal attack by Senator Barack Obama.
"Some seem to believe we should negotiate with terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along," Bush said in a speech to Israel's parliament as part of the country's 60th anniversary celebrations.
No names were mentioned, but it was widely seen as a criticism of Democratic presidential nomination front-runner Barack Obama, who has expressed willingness to meet with leaders of U.S. adversaries such as Iran and Syria.
The Illinois senator was quick to respond by issuing a statement accusing Bush of launching a "false political attack" and stressing that he doesn't support engagement with terrorists.
White House press secretary Dana Perino flatly denied the idea that the remark was aimed in any way at Obama.
Bush was referring to "a wide range of people who have talked to or suggested" we talk to such opponents as Hamas, Hezbollah or their state sponsors, said White House spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
The comment also comes after former president Jimmy Carter held talks with Hamas leaders last month and pushed for the militant group to be brought into the Israeli-Palestinian peace process.
Bush's lengthy speech focused on promoting the strong alliance between the United States and Israel, but during it he also took aim at those who make the case for negotiating with "terrorists and radicals."
He said that when Nazi tanks had crossed into Poland, an American senator declared that if they had talked to Hitler, the situation could've been avoided.
Bush said that such "false comfort of appeasement" has been "repeatedly discredited by history."
In Obama's responding statement, he said, "It is time to turn the page on eight years of policies that have strengthened Iran and failed to secure America or our ally Israel."
"Instead of tough talk and no action, we need to do what Kennedy, Nixon and Reagan did and use all elements of American power including tough, principled and direct diplomacy to pressure countries like Iran and Syria," he said. With files from the Associated Press
You can always tell when you are speaking truth. The Leftists go into hysteria about it.
Keyword,negotiating. In other words for it is appeasement through the offering of goods.
How did Obama know the President was talking about him?
Wow, good thing Barry never makes any comments about President Bush, that would make this response hypocritical.
“...comments that were perceived as a personal attack by Senator Barack Obama.”
Touchy, touchy!! B-Hussein-O better man-up and toughen-up if he wants to take on the job of POTUS. Wuss!
Exactly, if Obama had not been guilty of saying this. he would not of gave it a second thought..God Bless President Bush.. and the USA
The only way he could think that is if the statement actually applied to Obama.
“How did Obama know the President was talking about him?”
The little terrorist on his shoulder told him.
As I mentioned on another thread about this, I think this response on the part of the Dems, Pelosi, Obama anchors the perspective of Obama as Jimmah Cahtah #2. The 2nd term for the Commie jerk from Plains, GA. I think too that is why J.Cahtah. has endorsed Obama. I think Cahtah see’s Obama carrying on his own lifes delusions.
Their only difference is in age and physical appearance.
Since when did a political statement - which actually had ALL of the Dems in mind - become a “personal attack”?
Methinks this will be Osama Obama’s strategy. Call everything, any request for rational discussion or even challenge to his hype, a “personal attack.”
And we all know why, of course - it’s whitey! The Man is keeping him down. The Man wants to exterminate all blacks (and even half-blacks like Barry) by treating them as equals and asking them questions that they are supposed to be intelligent enough to answer! It’s a plot, I tell you, a plot!
Nothing ‘veiled’ about it all. The President was clearly firing a broadside at Barry Chamberlain, and I bless him for it.
Try this one. I can sum up the Dhimmirat platform in two words.
For foreign policy, the word is “appeasement”.
For domestic policy, the word is “socialism”.
Nothing else needs to be known about leftist dhimmirats who seek election.
Me thinks Barry Snobama doth protest too much! Better go put some it on that, Barry HUSSEIN O!
Talk about thin skin as a canidate what about Obama as a President......Wha.......Wha...... your a bully and can we discuss this over French style Tea with my Defense Secretary John Kerry....
OBAMA=OB(H)AMA(S)
Chief appeasement officer is John Kerry.
That sound you hear is the sound a shoe makes when being worn.
Is that Barry NMN Obama I hear yelping?
Why does this upset Obama? He HAS pledged to talk to the people who don’t like us.
If he thinks Bush is wrong he should stand up and say “Talking to the enemy IS a good thing and here is why...”
Oh, I just think Obama grabbed a moment to show he was strong for Israel, when everything he’s done shows us he’s weak on terrorism. Seeking insult where there was none.
I immediately thought Bush was making a reference to Carter. Carter was in Israel just a few months ago talking to terrorists. It’s natural of Bush to come and impress Israel that Carter does not represent the US.
Oh, that is good, really, really good. Hat off to ya.
I think he was talking about all of them. He said it, they all hysterically took the bait and exposed themselves to the world. Well done, Mr. President!
It was a great speech that spoke truth on current events and history while being a great B slap on Obama.
The D-platform is simply going over the path of least resistance, even if it kills you and everybody around you.
There's nothing partisan about this rather bland statement of the obvious
Right. It was clearly a slap at Carter, who met with terrorists after the administration told him not to.
Obama just feels guilty.
Particularly when they are counting on being the last killed.
Hey FReepers, this is the perfect time to try to get this instance of Democrat perfidy in front of the media. I’d read about this before, and a new interview about this document was just published today (our theme should be that “THIS is how the Democrats try to ‘negotiate’ with our worst enemies):
Ted Kennedy and the KGB
By Jamie Glazov
FrontPageMagazine.com | Thursday, May 15, 2008
http://www.frontpagemagazine.com/Articles/Read.aspx?GUID=0DC20D32-80C6-446E-BF51-1C054E35B7BA
Kengor: It was a May 14, 1983 letter from the head of the KGB, Viktor Chebrikov, to the head of the USSR, the odious Yuri Andropov, with the highest level of classification. Chebrikov relayed to Andropov an offer from Senator Ted Kennedy, presented by Kennedys old friend and law-school buddy, John Tunney, a former Democratic senator from California, to reach out to the Soviet leadership at the height of a very hot time in the Cold War. According to Chebrikov, Kennedy was deeply troubled by the deteriorating relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union, which he believed was bringing us perilously close to nuclear confrontation. Kennedy, according to Chebrikov, blamed this situation not on the Soviet leadership but on the American president-—Ronald Reagan. Not only was the USSR not to blame, but, said Chebrikov, Kennedy was, quite the contrary, very impressed with Andropov.
The thrust of the letter is that Reagan had to be stopped, meaning his alleged aggressive defense policies, which then ranged from the Pershing IIs to the MX to SDI, and even his re-election bid, needed to be stopped. It was Ronald Reagan who was the hindrance to peace. That view of Reagan is consistent with things that Kennedy said and wrote at the time, including articles in sources like Rolling Stone (March 1984) and in a speeches like his March 24, 1983 remarks on the Senate floor the day after Reagans SDI speech, which he lambasted as misleading Red-Scare tactics and reckless Star Wars schemes.
Even more interesting than Kennedys diagnosis was the prescription: According to Chebrikov, Kennedy suggested a number of PR moves to help the Soviets in terms of their public image with the American public. He reportedly believed that the Soviet problem was a communication problem, resulting from an inability to counter Reagans (not the USSRs) propaganda. If only Americans could get through Reagans smokescreen and hear the Soviets peaceful intentions.
So, there was a plan, or at least a suggested plan, to hook up Andropov and other senior apparatchiks with the American media, where they could better present their message and make their case. Specifically, the names of Walter Cronkite and Barbara Walters are mentioned in the document. Also, Kennedy himself would travel to Moscow to meet with the dictator.
Time was of the essence, since Reagan, as the document privately acknowledged, was flying high en route to easy re-election in 1984.
With ears like Obama’s no wonder he’s sensitive. He probably heard the remarks without need for a radio. Hey Obama! SETI just called and they need two more ENORMOUS dishes for their satellite array. Can you lend an ear or two?
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